Shoe horn



Dec.

12, 1961 L. c. VAN DER VLIET SHOE HORN Filed May 15, 1959 JNVENTOR.

Leendert Chnshnus Van Der Vile! ATTORNEY Unite Sttates Patet 3,012,702 Patented Dec. 12?, 1961 3,012,702 SHOE HORN Leendert Christinus Van der Vliet, 525 8th Ave, Bowness, Alberta, Canada Filed May 15, 1959, Ser. No. 813,452 3 Claims. (Cl. 223-113) This invention relates to footwear and more particularly to a fixture for applying a shoe to a foot.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a shoe horn type fixture that will conveniently and easily guide a foot into a shoe upper with a minimum amount of eifort and without damaging any of the shoe parts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shoe horn fixture of the above type that will readily accommodate all types of shoes, both high heels and short, and which can be equally as well used by men and women, regardless of the size or type of the shoe being applied.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a shoe horn fixture bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and eflicient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away, of a shoe horn made in accordance with the present invention in operative use;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the assembly shown in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the shoe horn shown in FIGURE 1.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, a shoe horn fixture made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a substantially flat base 12 supported in spaced relationship above a supporting surface, such as by feet 14. A well 16 adjacent to the rear end of the base 12, spaced equally inwardly from the opposite sides thereof, defines a longitudinal slot 18 for receiving the lower end of a high heel, in the event that the device is used for applying a high heel type shoe to a foot. The opposite front end of the base 12 is provided with an upstanding and rearwardly concave toe plate 20 that serves as an abutment for limiting the forward movement of the toe 22 of the shoe during use, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The rear end of the base 12 includes a rigid upstanding post 24 terminating in an arcuate loop portion 26 at the upper extremity. A flexible element 28 integral at one end with the upper portion of the post 24, has a tapered portion 30 at the opposite end that is adapted to engage the heel 34 of the foot being inserted into the shoe upper 32. The loop portion 26 forms positioning means for the v exible member 28.

The operation of this device will now be readily understood. The shoe upper 32 to be applied is placed it carries the adjacent end of the flexible element 28 along therewith into the upper 32 so as to guide the heel properly into theshoe without damaging or flexing any of the shoe upper parts. As soon as the foot has been properly inserted, the flexible element 28 is conveniently and manually withdrawn and positioned for the next operation. In the event that the shoe being applied has a high heel, the lower end of the high heel is conveniently received within the slot 18 of the well 16, thus enabling such high heel shoe to be applied in the manner hereinbefore described.

While the particular size shoe illustrated has the toe abutting the concave member 20, smaller sizes of shoes would not engage member 20. Thus, the primary function of member 26 is as a heelplate to aid in removing a shoe. The heelplate 2% is made from a heavy white rubber such as used in water ski binding. By placing the heel of a shoe against the concave surface of heelplate 20 and pushing the foot rearwardly while lifting the heel of the foot, the shoe will be retracted from the foot. There is also provided a stippled rubber anti-skid covering on the upper surface of base 12 for preventing forward movement of the shoe when forcing the foot into the shoe.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters latent of the United States is:

1. A fixture for applying a shoe to a foot comprising, in combination, a base, a toe plate at one end of said base for engaging the toe of a shoe to be applied for limiting forward movement of the shoe relative to said base, said toe plate comprising a concave plate rigidly secured to one end of said base, an upright post at the opposite end of said base and a flexible guide secured at one end to the upper end of said post for yieldable downward movement toward said base and into a shoe for guiding the heel of a foot into the shoe upper upon said base, said upright post comprising a rigid member secured at its lower end to said other end of said base and terminating at the upper end in an arcuate portion overlying said base and forming a positioning means for said guide.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said flexible guide comprises a flexible element secured at one end to said upper end of said upright post and having a tapered portion at the opposite end overlying said arcuate portion of said upright post and said base.

3. The combination according to claim 2, further comprising a well formed in said base adjacent said parts, and defining an upwardly opening recess for receiving the lower end of a high heel therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 612,764 Anderson Oct. 18, 1898 624,473 Fredman et a1 May 9, 1899 2,725,167 Barnes Nov. 29, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 37,393 Germany Oct. 19, 1886 1 37,584 Austria June 11, 1909 

